Vocational and academic opportunities in post-16 studies

Joining the Sixth Form at Bredon School is an exciting time for any student, both those moving up from our Year 11 and those joining us from another school. The Sixth Form is part of the Senior School at Bredon, but has a strong identity of its own. The years spent in our Sixth Form are primarily designed to help students make the transition from the tightly structured life of a school child to the freedom and responsibility of life as an adult. Under the guidance of their tutors, Bredon's Sixth-Formers enjoy extra privileges, such as no longer having to wear a uniform. They are encouraged to take more responsibility for themselves, such as planning their own studies, sports and activities, charity projects and social events.

The School's well equipped Sixth Form Centre is housed within the major new Smart Building, opened in late 2007.

• Click here to view the range of subjects available

Entry to the Sixth Form

Firstly, all students - both our own Year 11 and external candidates are now required to make a formal application to join the Sixth Form. Places will be granted based on pupils' ambitions, their predicted grades and by interview. External applicants are normally expected to have achieved at least three A*-C grades at GCSE, and preferably five. Sixth Form admissions will primarily be determined during the Spring Term.

Pathways study programmes

Another Sixth Form development has been the introduction of our new Pathways study programmes. Bredon offers an unusually wide range of courses at a number of different levels, including academic, vocational and life skills courses. To make the possible options easier for both students and their parents to understand, we allocate every Sixth-Former to one of six Pathways, named after the six letters of the word "Bredon". The Pathway sets out a range of courses appropriate to the child's abilities. It is thus possible for pupils to follow an academic route, a vocational route or a combination of the two. For example, Pathway B involves a programme comprising solely Level 3 advanced courses, such as AS/A2 English Literature and OCR Level 3 Nationals in Business.

The six Pathways are:

B - a programme of advanced (level 3) courses
R - a mixed programme of intermediate (level 2) & advanced courses
E - a programme of intermediate courses
D - a mixed programme of foundation (level 1) and intermediate courses
O - a mixed programme of foundation and entry-level courses
N - a programme of entry-level courses

Some of the courses offered last for one year, while others are for two years. GCSE retakes following on from Year 11 studies are classified as foundation level 1 courses.

• Click here to view the current Pathways Programmes in more detail.

Enhancement programmes

In addition to their studies under the Pathways programmes, all Bredon Sixth-Formers also take a selection of Enhancement programmes designed to help them develop their personal and social skills. These include: Duke of Edinburgh Award; Community Sports Leaders Award; Higher Sports Leaders Award; Work Experience; Young Enterprise; careers development; leadership training; community service; School Council; sport; activities; positions of responsibility; academic support; English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL); driving lessons.

Ready for the next stage

For new Sixth-Formers, the school year usually begins with a weekend of leadership training designed to enable staff to identify those with the potential to be monitors or prefects. An average of 80% of Bredon's Sixth-Formers go on to pursue a wide range of further studies at college or university, so careers education is also an important aspect of life in the Sixth Form (see under Careers).

With a wide variety of opportunities to develop as an individual, Bredon School's Sixth Form is great preparation for the next stage in life.